Fuel cell air path cooling system

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of fuel cells, in particular to a fuel cell air path cooling system, which comprises a steam-water separator and an intercooler, one side of the steam-water separator is communicated with a galvanic pile outlet hydrogen pipe, the other side of the steam-water separator is communicated with an outlet pipe, and the intercooler is communicated with an air inlet pipe. The steam-water separator is used for separating liquid water in hydrogen, the end, close to the steam-water separator, of the intercooler is provided with a cooling water inlet pipe in a communicated mode, a drainage valve is arranged between the cooling water inlet pipe and the steam-water separator, and the two ends of the drainage valve are connected with a water cavity of the steam-water separator and the cooling water inlet pipe on the intercooler respectively. According to the scheme, the air is cooled by low-temperature liquid water generated in the hydrogen loop of the fuel cell, so that the air temperature at the outlet of the intercooler is lower, the dew point of the humidified air is controlled, and the over-high air-hydrogen temperature difference is avoided, thereby solving the problem that the air is condensed and dewed in a galvanic pile, and avoiding the problem that the service life of the galvanic pile is shortened due to pile flooding.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly relates to a fuel cell air path cooling system. Background Art

[0002] At present, fuel cells usually use a cooling water scheme with a branch at the inlet of the stack to cool the high-temperature air at the outlet of the air compressor. However, since the water temperature at the inlet of the stack is generally about 70 °C, and the cooling water in the stack cooling path is usually at a relatively high temperature, the temperature of the cooled air remains on the high side and cannot meet the requirements of all stacks.

[0003] Specifically, when the cooling effect of the intercooler is insufficient, the air temperature is relatively high, about 70 °C. At this time, when entering the humidifier, it will carry away more moisture, and the dew point reaches about 65 °C. When the temperature enters the stack and meets the cold hydrogen, the temperature drops suddenly to reach the dew point, and condensation occurs in the stack, affecting the service life of the stack. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Aiming at the deficiencies of the existing technology, the purpose of the utility model is to provide a fuel cell air path cooling system, which solves the problem of uncontrollable condensation of water vapor in the air path caused by too large a temperature difference between the air path temperature and the hydrogen path temperature.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model provides the following technical solution: A fuel cell air path cooling system includes a steam-water separator and an intercooler. One side of the steam-water separator is connected and provided with a hydrogen pipe at the outlet of the stack, and the other side of the steam-water separator is connected and provided with an outlet pipe. The steam-water separator is used to separate the liquid water in the hydrogen. One end of the intercooler close to the steam-water separator is connected and provided with a cooling water inlet pipe. A drain valve is arranged between the cooling water inlet pipe and the steam-water separator. Two ends of the drain valve are respectively connected to the water chamber of the steam-water separator and the cooling water inlet pipe on the intercooler. One end of the intercooler far from the cooling water inlet pipe is connected and provided with a cooling water outlet pipe. One side of the intercooler is also connected and provided with an air inlet pipe, and the other side of the intercooler is connected and provided with an air outlet pipe.

[0006] Preferably, a liquid level sensor is arranged on the steam-water separator for detecting the liquid level height in the steam-water separator.

[0007] Preferably, a temperature sensor is arranged on the air outlet pipe for detecting the air temperature inside the air outlet pipe of the intercooler.

[0008] Preferably, the steam-water separator and the intercooler are arranged vertically one above the other.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows: In this solution, the low-temperature liquid water generated in the hydrogen circuit of the fuel cell is used to cool the air, so that the temperature of the air at the outlet of the intercooler is lower, the dew point of the humidified air is controlled, and the excessive temperature difference between air and hydrogen is avoided, thereby improving the problem of air condensation in the stack when encountering cold, and avoiding the problem of reduced stack life caused by flooding the stack. Description of the Drawings

[0010] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the system of the present utility model.

[0011] In the figure: 1, steam-water separator; 2, intercooler; 3, drain valve; 4, hydrogen pipe at the stack outlet; 5, outlet pipe; 6, liquid level sensor; 7, cooling water inlet pipe; 8, cooling water outlet pipe; 9, air inlet pipe; 10, air outlet pipe; 11, temperature sensor. Detailed Embodiments

[0012] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present utility model clearer and more understandable, the present utility model will be further described in detail below through embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present utility model and are not used to limit the present utility model.

[0013] The serial numbers assigned to the components herein, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the objects described and do not have any sequential or technical meanings. The terms "connection" and "coupling" as used in this application, unless otherwise specified, both include direct and indirect connections (couplings). In the description of the present utility model, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present utility model.

[0014] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature being "on" or "under" the second feature may be that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "under" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature has a lower horizontal height than the second feature.

[0015] Next, refer toFigure 1 A fuel cell air path cooling system provided by an embodiment of the present application will be described.

[0016] A fuel cell air path cooling system includes a steam-water separator 1 and an intercooler 2. One side of the steam-water separator 1 is connected and provided with a hydrogen pipe 4 at the outlet of the fuel cell stack. The other side of the steam-water separator 1 is connected and provided with an outlet pipe 5. The steam-water separator 1 is used to separate the liquid water in hydrogen. One end of the intercooler 2 close to the steam-water separator 1 is connected and provided with a cooling water inlet pipe 7. A drain valve 3 is arranged between the cooling water inlet pipe 7 and the steam-water separator 1. Both ends of the drain valve 3 are respectively connected to the water chamber of the steam-water separator 1 and the cooling water inlet pipe 7 on the intercooler 2. The end of the intercooler 2 far from the cooling water inlet pipe 7 is connected and provided with a cooling water outlet pipe 8. One side of the intercooler 2 is also connected and provided with an air inlet pipe 9. The other side of the intercooler 2 is connected and provided with an air outlet pipe 10.

[0017] Further, a liquid level sensor 6 is arranged on the steam-water separator 1 for detecting the liquid level height in the steam-water separator 1.

[0018] Further, a temperature sensor 11 is arranged on the air outlet pipe 10 for detecting the air temperature inside the air outlet pipe 10 on the intercooler 2.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the steam-water separator 1 and the intercooler 2 are arranged vertically as a whole, which is convenient for the arrangement of each pipeline.

[0020] The specific working process of a fuel cell air path cooling system of the present application will be described in combination with the above embodiments: During operation, the temperature sensor 11 detects the air temperature inside the air outlet pipe 10 on the intercooler 2. When the temperature is too high, the drain valve 3 is opened, and the low-temperature water inside the steam-water separator 1 enters the cooling water inlet pipe 7 and takes away the air heat in the intercooler 2. The liquid level sensor 6 monitors the liquid level to prevent hydrogen from entering the cooling water inlet pipe 7.

[0021] The condensed water in the steam-water separator 1 is about 50 °C, and entering the cooling water inlet pipe 7 can take away more air heat. The dew point of the lower air temperature after humidification is about 55 °C, which can avoid too high an air-hydrogen temperature difference, can significantly improve the problem of condensation of moisture in the air inside the fuel cell stack, and avoid the reduction of the fuel cell stack life caused by flooding.

[0022] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of concise description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combinations of these technical features do not conflict, they should be considered as the scope described in this specification.

[0023] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation manners of the present utility model. The description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation to the scope of the patent of the present utility model. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present utility model, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present utility model shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fuel cell air path cooling system, comprising a steam-water separator (1) and an intercooler (2), characterized in that: One side of the steam-water separator (1) is connected to a hydrogen outlet pipe (4) of the fuel cell stack, and the other side of the steam-water separator (1) is connected to an outlet pipe (5). The steam-water separator (1) is used to separate the liquid water in the hydrogen. One end of the intercooler (2) close to the steam-water separator (1) is connected to a cooling water inlet pipe (7). A drain valve (3) is arranged between the cooling water inlet pipe (7) and the steam-water separator (1). Two ends of the drain valve (3) are respectively connected to the water chamber of the steam-water separator (1) and the cooling water inlet pipe (7) on the intercooler (2). The other end of the intercooler (2) far from the cooling water inlet pipe (7) is connected to a cooling water outlet pipe (8). One side of the intercooler (2) is also connected to an air inlet pipe (9), and the other side of the intercooler (2) is connected to an air outlet pipe (10).

2. The air path cooling system of a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein: A liquid level sensor (6) is arranged on the steam-water separator (1) for detecting the liquid level height in the steam-water separator (1).

3. The air path cooling system for a fuel cell according to claim 1, wherein: A temperature sensor (11) is arranged on the air outlet pipe (10) for detecting the air temperature inside the air outlet pipe (10) of the intercooler (2).

4. A fuel cell air path cooling system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steam-water separator (1) and the intercooler (2) are arranged vertically as a whole.

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